‘America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before,’ Trump said in his inaugural address.
A last-minute change of venue, a promise to initiate a new “golden age of America,” and a flurry of executive orders (EOs) came to fruition during President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Jan. 20.
Hundreds gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to watch Trump sworn in as the 47th president before he delivered an address about unity and recapturing America’s destiny.
The day also saw Trump deliver a second speech following his inaugural address, famous attendees from the tech industry, and a post-inauguration rally at the Capital One Arena with thousands of supporters eager to watch the day’s events.
Former President Joe Biden also issued several last-minute pardons for multiple family members before delivering a departing speech after Trump’s inaugural address.
Here are some highlights from Trump’s first day of his second term.
A New ‘Golden Age’
Trump began his first speech as president with the assurance that America’s best days were soon to follow.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” he said after taking to the podium in the Capitol Rotunda.
“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”
The president’s remarks echoed a sentiment shared frequently on the campaign trail—that “the best is yet to come” for the United States.
He also reiterated his pledge to put America first “every single day” and to restore safety, justice, and the nation’s sovereignty.
“Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous, and free,” Trump added. “America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before.”
Trump Says ‘Saved by God’
The president also reflected on a more somber topic: the recent attempts on his life.
“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life,” Trump noted in his speech.
“Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason: I was saved by God to make America great again.”
Those comments evoked a standing ovation from the audience inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Trump was also targeted in a second assassination attempt in September at his golf club in West Palm Beach. In that instance, the gunman was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent before he could fire a shot.
With those incidents front of mind, the president pledged that his administration would work to “meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength” and “bring back hope, prosperity, safety, and peace” for all Americans.
“For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is Liberation Day.”
